Bulldog women defeat Madonna University in Las Vegas

The University of Montana Western Bulldogs women’s basketball team defeated the Madonna University Crusaders 82-69 in their opening game at the Las Vegas Shootout on Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas, Nev. By Lowell Peterson
The University of Montana Western Bulldogs women’s basketball team defeated the Madonna University Crusaders 82-69 in their opening game at the Las Vegas Shootout on Wednesday, Dec. 28 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Montana Western dominated play down low, outscoring Madonna 48-20 in the paint. The Bulldogs led by ten points at the half, 38-28, and outscored the Crusaders by three, 44-41, in a high-scoring second half to hold on for the victory. The Bulldogs shot a sizzling .593 (32-54) from the field and held Madonna to .377 (23-61). The only real offensive blemish was committing 23 turnovers that Madonna converted into 23 points.
Hayley Pettit led Montana Western with 25 points and eight rebounds. Pettit was nine for 13 from the field and seven for nine from the free throw line. Sammi Bignell was eight for 13 from the field and finished with 17 points. Roxy Thurman came off the bench to score nine points, grab five rebounds and dish out six assists. Nicole Tams matched Thurman with nine points on four-out-of-five shooting. Kassi Kerbs made all three of her shots, two from long range, to score eight points and also pulled down six rebounds. Kaci Matthies made all three of her field goal attempts and finished with seven points. Alecia Wilson scored six points and matched Thurman with six assists.
Madonna had four players score in double figures. Heather Pratt led the way with 14 points, Michelle Lindsey scored 13, Kristie Porada added 12 and Shantelle Herring finished with 11.
The Bulldogs upped their record on the season to 10-2 while the Crusaders dropped to 5-7. Montana Western faced Bethel University at 3 p.m. on Thursday in the second of their three games at the Shootout.